howeenterprise.com
Monday, April 16, 2018
The case of the missing shoes They were a rather cheap pair - bought for exactly ten dollars at Sears - and utterly lacking in style. “I was trying to save you some embarrassment,” she says. Ironically, her quest completely unsuccessful with the printing of this column. In addition, the shoes in question had never been worn. Not one time in more than a year. So when my sister came into my parent’s closet and expressed her horror that our father owns alligator shoes, my mother did what she always does. Samuel Moore-Sobel is a freelance Took action, knowing how unlikely writer. He is currently working on it would be that my fairly a memoir and publishes a blog unobservant father would ever which can be found by visiting detect anything missing. That is www.holdingontohopetoday.com until he goes to retrieve shoelaces Follow him on both Facebook and he stored inside a pair of laceless Twitter. shoes. This moment, although rather silly, speaks to a larger truth about relationships and marriage. At some point, a couple reaches an impasse, some sort of disagreement in the management of their shared It all started with the shoes. I asked life. Whether shoes or choosing a my father for advice regarding my vocation, to deciding where to live shoe laces; peculiarly, my laces or how many children to birth. were repeatedly coming undone. Relationships are rife with conflict My father, known for his love of and areas of disagreement, some shoes and impressive expertise on issues more humorous than others. all things relating to footwear, All require two people to work recommended new shoelaces. He things out. offered to provide a new pair, disappearing upstairs with the This coming from someone who promise of returning with the has never allowed a relationship to object in hand. last for longer than a few months. My lack of experience certainly Moments later, one could hear two disqualifies me from dispensing feet pounding down the stairs at a any impactful advice, even though rapid pace. “Hey!” My father’s many choose to ignore that fact and exclamation rings out, bouncing ask anyway. Anything learned has around the house as he makes his been taught by watching my way around the corner. Entering the parents. The love they share is room and looking straight at my inspirational, their willingness to mother, he exclaims, “What face life together heart-warming. happened to my alligator shoes?” For more than twenty-five years of My siblings and I shift our gaze marriage and five years of dating, towards mom. A knowing look they have woken up every morning between her and my sister says all. and chosen each other. Even when Trying to hold back laughter my mother chooses to sell my brimming just underneath the father’s shoes. surface, they keep quiet, letting my dad’s rant continue. After a few more minutes of cajoling and appearing visibly “You sold my shoes, didn’t you? upset, my father - who by now is Why did you sell my shoes?” sitting on the floor - decides it is He keeps going, his head in his time to place the histrionics on hands, rubbing his temples in order hold. to process the news he had “I would rather have my wife than inconveniently stumbled upon just my alligator shoes,” he says. moments before. We are all “Please come sit next to me.” laughing now, adding to my Just like that, my parents show father’s deep sense of loss. their children how it’s done; and, I “Are you going to sell more of my am finally able to breathe a sigh of shoes?” he asks in a half-serious relief. My conscience is clear. tone. “Please don’t sell more of my Until my father decides he cannot shoes.” let go. I may have inadvertently caused my parents to fight. A strange realization, only revealed with the benefit of hindsight.
A deep sense of complexity is seemingly imbedded in the idea of marriage. This long-standing institution ensures that there are always two sides to every story. While one person may seemingly be in the right, one subtle nuance can suddenly throw a person’s certainty completely off course. My mother calmly explains her decision to sell my father’s shoes.
“I just wonder who has my shoes…I bet they aren’t taking as good care of them as I did…” my father says. “No” my mother replies, “they are wearing them.” Samuel Moore-Sobel is a freelance writer. To have words of hope delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to his blog by visiting www.holdingontohopetoday.com
Page #15
Robotics
Continued from page 2
plus some from Poland, Saudi Arabia and all over the world.
hard the final two weeks before competition. They put in a lot of effort."
"I'll be honest, if you'd have told me back in March that were going to win this, it would have been really surprising," said Wingate. "I'm not trying to sell the kids short, because they worked really hard the final two weeks before competition. They put in a lot of effort."
Wingate told them recently that if they couldn't get the robot working that they needed to forfeit the trip to Houston.
"I told them, 'It's too much money and too much time spent. I'm not going to go to Houston to watch a robot that Wingate told them recently that if doesn't work,' But they really they couldn't get the robot working came along in the final two that they needed to forfeit the trip weeks." to Houston. There were eight weeks to work "I told them, 'It's too much money on the project but one of the and too much time spent. I'm not juniors, Oleg Garbrant, has two going to go to Houston to watch a jobs that he has to work at while robot that doesn't work,' But they also trying to find time to be in really came along in the final two the robotics program. As it weeks." turned out, Garbrant programmed one of the robots. There were eight weeks to work on Gage Hendrickson and Dawson the project but one of the juniors, Mitchell programmed the second Oleg Garbrant, has two jobs that robot. Freshman Jackson he has to work at while also trying Adkins also did some to find time to be in the robotics programming and Wingate program. As it turned out, thinks he can help carry the Garbrant programmed one of the torch of the program for the next robots. Gage Hendrickson and few years. Dawson Mitchell programmed the second robot. Freshman Jackson "I told the kids as we entered, Adkins also did some that this is not easy. Every programming and Wingate thinks school in the same boat. Kids he can help carry the torch of the are still kids and that levels the program for the next few years. playing field," said Wingate. plus some from Poland, Saudi "There are very few teams that Arabia and all over the world. are that much better than everyone else." "I'll be honest, if you'd have told me back in March that were going And on this day in Houston it to win this, it would have been was a tiny high school in a tiny really surprising," said Wingate. town that took the big crown. "I'm not trying to sell the kids With some donations and short, because they worked really financial help, they could dream for world domination.
Feed My Sheep monthly report The local food pantry, Feed My Sheep, fed a total of 76 families in March. They were able to feed 125 children 17 and under and 99 adults between the ages of 18-59. The also were able to feed 59 seniors over the age of 60.
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." - John 21:17
